8/14/2019 Aircraft Rigging and Relocation Project Completed at USS Intrepid Museum

1/2

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services Facilitates Intrepid Museum Restoration

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services (R. Baker & Son), a global dismantlement, rigging,decommissioning and building demolition contractor, recently completed several rigging projectsconsisting of the moving of prized military aircraft at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in NewYork City. These tasks were part of an overall massive restoration project undertaken by the museum.

Built in 1943, the USS Intrepid and her crew have a distinguished history of service including tours of duty in both World War II and Vietnam. She also served as NASA prime recovery vessel before beingretired in 1974. In 1982 the USS Intrepid began her second career as the Intrepid Sea, Air & SpaceMuseum.

As part of the museums on-going restoration and renovation undertaking, R. Baker & Son wascontracted to perform the rigging and relocation of several aircraft which had been restored. Carefulplanning, including critical lift plans for each pick, and coordination were necessary to make sure thateach pick was done safely and without damage to the priceless items.

One of the aircraft hoisted aboard the carrier was an F-11 Tiger which is also a former Blue Angel #5from 1961-1963. Another aircraft rigged up onto the carrier was the museums newly acquired MiG-17which was painted in North Vietnamese markings. This plane has historical significance as an Intrepidaircraft shot one of these down during the Vietnam War. The final aircraft to be lifted onboard was themuseums MiG -15 which is painted in a North Korean era from the 1950-1952 war. Airplanes like theIntrepids F3D Skyknight shot these down during night time intercepts.

These items were rigged down using a 120 ton hydraulic crane, spreader bar, associated rigging gear anda 4-5 man rigging crew. The rigging crew was headed by Ken Paszkewicz, Sr. Project Manager for R.Baker & Sons. Mr. Paszkewicz, is a Vietnam War Veteran having served 2 tours of duty from 69 -71on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock CVA19.

In addition to the aircraft, R. Baker & Son was tasked with rigging two (2) 17,000 lb generators up ontothe flight deck. The generators were rigged using the same equipment and crews as utilized for theaircraft.

R. Baker & Son was also tasked with mounting the USS Intrepids propeller onto a steel display frame.The propeller is solid brass, weighs 28,000 lbs and is 15 feet 6 inches from blade tip to blade tip. Utilizingvarious rigging equipment, the rigging crew lifted the propeller from a horizontal position into a verticalposition. Because the propeller was located in the bay of the carrier, there was very little headroom and

the crews only had only about 6 inches of clearance once the propeller was stood straight up. Once in avertical position, the propeller was held in place via chain blocks while a 3,800 pound shaft was inserted.Once the shaft was in place, the assembly was then carefully landed onto the steel display frame. Theentire frame and propeller assembly then needed to be moved approximately 150 feet to its final location.In order to accomplish this, the epoxy floor first had to be protected with hardboard. Following

protection of the floor, R. Baker & Sons expert rigging crews utilized several 15 to n Teflon skates alongwith the 5,000 lb forklift to carefully move the assembly to its final location.

8/14/2019 Aircraft Rigging and Relocation Project Completed at USS Intrepid Museum

2/2

The project was extremely successful with no injuries and no damage to any of the military aircraft orequipment.

As a disabled veteran owned company, R. Baker & Son is proud to have been a part in the over 2 yearrestoration and renovation of the Intrepid. The Intrepid Museum Complex now boasts new exhibits,interactive elements, newly opened areas of the ship and a completely restored aircraft collection, allalongside the former USS Growler submarine and British Airways Concorde. Her home at Pier 86, opento the public, has also been completely renovated and now features a welcoming, park-like atmosphere.

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services is the premier specialized contractor for dismantlement,decommissioning and demolition in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The veteran owned

company has been in business since 1935, has over 100 employees, an exemplary safety record (We havebeen directly involved in four (4) sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards) and is financially strong(bonding capabilities over $10 Million). Capabilities include total plant and facility dismantlement,decommissioning, demolition, plant relocations and re-installations as well as heavy equipment riggingand machinery moving, millwright services and onsite concrete crushing.

About The Intrepid Museum

The new Intrepid Museum is a unique journey filled with spectacular interactive exhibits and virtual,multi-sensory technology. The Intrepid Museum is a dynamic adventure for visitors of all ages and offers

group packages, member benefits, birthday parties, special event packages and educational programs.Located at 12th Avenue and 46th Street, Intrepid is easy to get to by mass transit, car or water taxi.Intrepid re-opens November 8, 2008, and is open every day except Mondays through March 31, 2009,then daily through September 30, 2009. For more information please visit www.intrepidmuseum.org .

Contact Information

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services1 Globe CourtRed Bank, NJ 07701

Phone: 732-222-3553Fax: 732-450-0311Website: http://www.rbaker.com Email: marketing@rbaker.com

http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/http://www.rbaker.com/http://www.rbaker.com/http://www.rbaker.com/mailto:marketing@rbaker.commailto:marketing@rbaker.commailto:marketing@rbaker.commailto:marketing@rbaker.comhttp://www.rbaker.com/http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/